Rio Ferdinand has expressed his disapproval of Gareth Southgate’s decision to consistently select Harry Maguire for the England national team, despite Maguire’s lack of playing time for Manchester United. Maguire has faced a decline in form over the past two years and even lost his captaincy at his club, but he continues to be a regular starter for England. Ferdinand believes that this preference for Maguire over other young talents, such as Chelsea’s Levi Colwill, sends the wrong message to emerging players and damages their confidence.
Ferdinand acknowledges that if England were in a critical situation, choosing an experienced player like Maguire might make sense. However, given that England is comfortably leading their group in Euro qualifiers, he questions the necessity of persistently fielding Maguire. He argues that this decision undermines the morale and self-assurance of other players vying for the same position.
The absence of an alternative center-back is another concern raised by Ferdinand. He notes that John Stones, who has been performing exceptionally well, is injured, but there are capable players like Marc Guehi who could fill the void effectively. Ferdinand suggests that Maguire’s continued selection despite his lack of club playtime indicates a lack of alternatives and reliance on the Manchester United defender.
Ferdinand points out that historically, players had to consistently excel at their club level to earn an England call-up, let alone a starting position. He laments the changing landscape where players like Maguire, who haven’t played for their club, can still represent England. This shift, according to Ferdinand, could affect the motivation and confidence of young defenders like Colwill, who might interpret it as a lack of faith in their abilities.
Ferdinand emphasizes the importance of giving young talents like Colwill, Dunk, and Tomori the opportunity to prove themselves on the international stage. He believes that Southgate may not fully understand how these players perform at the highest level until they are tested in competitive international matches. Ferdinand questions the wisdom of relying on Maguire or Stones during a tournament if they haven’t been adequately tested before. He argues that exposing young players to international football earlier would be a better preparation for future tournaments.
